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Delhi is home to numerous prominent monuments of India such as the Red Fort, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb, Jantar Mantar, and so on. These structures display intricate architectural details and tell us about the history of Delhi and its ruling dynasties. Among these, one such important monument is the Qutub Minar. It is a red and buff sandstone tower that contains Arabi and Nagari inscriptions. Here are some other interesting facts about Qutub Minar.
Interesting Facts About Qutub Minar
1. Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. It measures 73m in height.
2. The diameter of its base is 14.3 meters which narrows down to 2.7 meters at the top.
3. There are 3779 stairs inside the minaret.
4. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
5. It was built by Qutubuddin Aibak in the 12th century to mark the end of the rule of the last Hindu kingdom. Thus, it is also known as the Tower of Victory.
6. Qutub Minar was built in three stages by three different rulers. The construction was initiated by Qutubuddin Aibak who built one storey, followed by his successor Shams-ud-din Iltumish who built three storeys, and finally, Firoze Shah Tughlak who built the final fifty storey.
7. The top of the Qutub Minar was damaged by lightning. It was later restored by Firoz Shah Tuglaq using a white marble to replace the damaged part.
8. Quwwat-Ul-Islam is a mosque built inside the same compound as the minaret.
9. It is believed that the Quwwat-Ul-Islam of the Qutub Minar complex was built by demolishing Hindu and Jain temples.
10. There is a 2000-year-old iron pillar in the same complex which has not been yet rusted.
11. The Qutub Minar complex also consists of more than half a dozen minor monuments. They are mainly mosques, tombs, and pillars.
12. In the 14th century, Alauddin Khilji initiated the construction of another taller and beautiful minaret. However, the construction stopped soon after his death.
13. The general public was allowed to climb up to the top of Minar until 1974 when 45 people were killed in a stampede. Since then, public access inside the tower has been banned.
14. The name Qutub Minar is a matter of debate. Some historians believe that it was named after Qutubuddin Aibak who initiated its construction. Others believe that it is named after Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint in Baghdad, who was a favourite of Shamsuddin Iltumish.
15. Bollywood actor and director Devanand wanted to shoot the song Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar in Qutub Minar.
We hope you enjoyed reading these facts about Qutub Minar. If you want to read more such interesting facts, then you can also visit our blog 15 Fun Facts About Delhi You Won’t Believe Are True.
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